2. PRIVATE SCHOOL VS. PUBLIC SCHOOL By: Maddison Forrest

3. Types of elementary schools in the United States  Public Schools  Private Schools

4. What is public school? ◦ Offers free education to any student ◦ Supported by public funds

5. What is private school? ◦ Does not get money from the government ◦ Run by a private group of individuals ◦ Cost to attend ◦ Enrollment selection process

6. Decision factors for determining what type of school is best for your child  Academic reputation and college preparation  School size and Class size  Safety reputation  Special programs  Costs  Religious and Moral instruction  Location  Ideology

7. Advantages to public school ◦ Known to accommodate special needs students ◦ No tuition ◦ Teachers must be certified ◦ Teachers can not be terminated on the spot ◦ Teachers receive greater salaries ◦ Accommodate families with multiple children

8. Disadvantages to public school ◦ Your housing determines what school your children go to, good or bad ◦ Sometimes larger student to teacher ratio ◦ Small schools can’t afford necessities ◦ Anyone living in the school district attends ◦ General curriculum, made for all ◦ Standards created by state

9. Advantages to private school ◦ You can choose a school no matter where you live ◦ Small student to teacher ratio ◦ Money isn’t a problem ◦ Chosen students are allowed to enroll, decreasing violence ◦ Know to accommodate gifted and talented students ◦ Specialized curriculum ◦ Standards determined by school

10. Disadvantage to private school ◦ Not known to accommodate special needs students ◦ Costly tuition ◦ Teachers don’t have to have a certification ◦ Teachers can be terminated on the spot ◦ Teachers receive less salary ◦ Doesn’t accommodate families with multiple children

11. Facts (2007-2008) Public School ◦ Traditional public schools in the United States ◦ 87,190 ◦ Average class size ◦ 20.3 students per class ◦ Average salary ◦ $49,600 per year ◦ 63 % of staff employed with academic specialist or coaching assignments Private School ◦ Private schools in the United States ◦ 28,220 ◦ Average class size ◦ 18.1students per class ◦ Average salary ◦ $36,300 per year ◦ 37 % of staff employed with academic specialist or coaching assignments

12. Which will it be? Statically, all the numbers point to private schools over public schools. However, with that being said, we must take notice that our students aren’t statistics. Our nation had been built on the public school system. The great inventors, the poets, and the doctors have mainly come from public schools. Therefore, as teachers we should be passionate about the public school system and the opportunity given to every child to embrace their opportunities of greatness within them.

13. Nces.ed.gov http://www.publicschoolreview.com/articles/5 http://www.thefreedictionary.com/public+school http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/private%20school References